Will Boyd

My Story

Will Boyd, a multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator, embodies the soul sax tradition of legends like Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg, SC, and Queens, NY, he now resides in Asheville, NC. A former member of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, Will has released three solo albums and co-leads a group with his wife, jazz vocalist and radio host Kelle Jolly.

A South Carolina State University graduate and inductee into its Jazz Hall of Fame, Will has performed with a diverse array of artists, including Leslie Odom Jr., Wycliffe Gordon, and Regina Carter, and appeared at festivals like Big Ears and Peter Barakan’s It’s Magic in Tokyo. With Kelle, he has toured internationally, appeared on The Jazzy Vegetarian, and performed in musical theater productions, earning accolades such as the MLK Award for the Arts. Will also contributed to the PBS documentary and opera celebrating painter Beauford Delaney and remains an active force in Asheville’s jazz scene, directing the Contemporary Jazz Ensemble and performing weekly with various groups.